How to create a good-quality finite element (FE) model

The finite element method (FEM) is increasingly used for structural calculations. For the most part, FEM is used to calculate structural deformation, stress, fatigue life, vibration, or temperature. The manufacturing of a product may be simulated, and one can calculate the acoustics, crash behaviour, and many other disciplines. The FEM model answers questions such as ‘will the product satisfy the design requirements?’ or ‘will the component fail?’ or later ‘why did it fail?’.

FEM is suitable for structures that go beyond a simple analytical formula representable geometry. The geometry is meshed, that is, divided into many small parts. These parts are ‘finite elements’. The FEM solver processes these elements typically using matrix methods to produce the required results (deformation, stress and so on).

MSC Software

MSC Software develops simulation software technology that enables engineers to validate and optimize their designs using virtual prototypes. Customers in almost every part of manufacturing use our software to complement, and in some cases even replace the physical prototype “build and test” process that has traditionally been used in product design.

As a trusted partner, MSC Software helps companies improve quality, save time and reduce costs associated with design and test of manufactured products. Our products accurately and reliably predict how products will behave in the real world to help engineers design more innovative products – quickly and cost effectively. MSC Software’s technology is used by leading manufacturers for linear and nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA), acoustics, fluid-structure interaction (FSI), multi-physics, optimization, fatigue and durability, multi-body dynamics, and control systems simulation. MSC pioneered many of the technologies that are now relied upon by industry to analyze and predict stress and strain, vibration & dynamics, acoustics, and thermal analysis in our flagship product, MSC Nastran.